Maidstone United had an incredible 2023/2024 with their record-breaking run in the Emirates FA Cup to reaching the National League South play-off semi-final. 

Boss George Elokobi has been reflecting on the Clubs achievements and his hopes for the new season which begins for the Stones with a trip to face St Albans City on August 10. 

Speaking to KSN this week following their latest friendly at Sittingbourne, he told us: “We had a good season, and it has been good to reflect on over the summer, but as soon as we went on holiday, that is it – it is gone! So now we reset and refocus to getting the new group together and try to help them to gel as quickly as possible, and then we go from there!” 

“As a management team, we have to be sure that we don’t stand still, we want to put ourselves under pressure to make sure that we refresh the environment to make sure everyone stays hungry and that includes the management team. We must bring in players to improve the squad from last season. It has given us time to focus on where we want to freshen on the pitch.” 

“I’d like to think that the Cup run last season put the Club back in the public eye, the players go out to perform for our Football Club and for the community and if our run brought exposure to the Club, which I hope it did – then so be it.

“But we are always humble and respect our business at Maidstone United Football Club which is especially important which is why we take it one day at a time.

“It is always good to have that community feeling around the Club to stay connected to our fan base to make sure that we keep developing and bringing in exciting prospects for the Club and ensure that we keep growing and improving.” 

“It was a fantastic season in terms of the games that we had, the FA Cup run extended the games that we had which was amazing for the Club of course. But once it was over, there was not any chance to dwell on the historic achievement, we were straight back into the League and the focus immediately became refocusing on the League as we had so many games to catch up. Thankfully, we did that and went all the way to the semi-finals of the play-offs.” 

Asked about the season ahead, Elokobi was forthright in his response saying, “Lets no deceive anyone, there’s no manager going into any League in our Division this season who wouldn’t love to get promoted, it’s as simple as that!” 

“First though we have to make sure that we are competitive, we have to settle the new players in with the players that we have retained to make sure that we keep driving our standards and making sure that the team understand our principles, understand the pattern of play that we want to use this season.” 

“With the fixtures published this week, the season gets even closer. You are never too far away from football and that is the beauty of it – time goes fast; the players have had their holidays.

“Now is the time to get the volume of work that we need to in terms of being ready for St Albans City and the start of the season. We are taking things one day at a time, the players have been working so hard and it is good to have good tests like Sittingbourne gave us on Tuesday, test like we will be getting in the League.”